Category: Education

Have you had that experience where a colleague shares a topical link, and the group chat goes wild? Constructive and rich discussion filled with critical reflection follows and then slowly it fizzles out, lost to the group chat ether forever. Recently, we had that exact experience when a provocation about generative artificial intelligence (Gen-AI) in early childhood assessment was shared between us. We decided, however, that the conversation was too important to let slide. The landscape of early childhood education is rapidly evolving, with Gen-AI becoming well established as a powerful yet controversial tool. As educators, we find ourselves at ... Read more

Recently I was asked to speak at a career expo for pre-service early childhood teachers preparing to transition to the field. I guess the universe heard me loud and clear when I said I was ready to say ‘yes’ to new challenges and things that terrify me (like public speaking and playing team sports) in 2024! When I was asked to give this speech, I remembered sitting on the cusp of that precipice as a ready-to-graduate teacher, full of anticipation and a healthy dose of optimism as I tried to decide, ‘Where do I want to teach?’. I was asked ... Read more

The words we use daily with children matter. How we communicate and the words we use with children has a great effect on the relationships we build with them. UNICEF (n.d.) explains that ‘Every interaction you have with your child is a form of communication. It’s not just about the words you say: The tone of your voice, the look in your eyes and the hugs and kisses you give – all convey messages to your child.’ These can have a direct impact on how a child acts, feels, and responds to a situation.   Our language is powerful and it’s ... Read more

Sometimes a question can stay with you: ‘Are we making the best use of children’s time?’ This was Chloe Kerr1’s question after an In Service day in Shetland last year about slow pedagogies. Chloe’s question is key to reconsidering the relationship with time in early childhood education and care (ECEC). This has been the focus of my two-year research study, Slow Knowledge and the Unhurried Child, funded by the Froebel Trust (Clark, 2020; Clark, 2023).   Strange things happened to time during this study, which began in January 2020 and took place during the pandemic. Time froze for some of us ... Read more

An Italian town located just 42 miles away from a famous hotspot is among the best places to visit in October. Cefalù is a charming town on Sicily’s northern coast, just outside Palermo.  Known for its stunning architecture, including the renowned cathedral with its intricate mosaics, and natural attractions like La Rocca, a striking rock formation offering panoramic views of the town and coastline, Cefalù is a must-visit destination. To avoid peak crowds, the ideal time to visit is late spring (May-June) or early autumn (September-October) when the weather is pleasant.  The town has been named by the experts at ... Read more

Situated in the heart of Cornwall, Porthcurno has been a go-to seaside destination for Brits for many years and has even won awards for its beautiful sandy beaches. The hotspot features everything Brits want from a seaside holiday, littered with quaint little cafes, beautiful golden beaches and endless scenic walks to soak up the southwest of England in all of its glory. Porthcurno Beach steals the crown for a must-see part of the village, but there is also Pedn Vounder Beach just a short stroll away. As well as this, the Logon Rock sits across the bay. The 65-tonne naturally ... Read more

The summer holidays have finally arrived and with that millions of Britons will be gearing up for a summer holiday. To help your money go further, Amazon has launched its annual summer bag sale to coincide with the peak travel season. Whether you’re jetting off overseas after snapping up a great easyJet deal or are staying closer to home on a UK staycation, the right luggage is essential. Luckily, as part of its bag sale, not only does Amazon have cabin and suitcases on offer which meet Jet2’s luggage rules and even Ryanair’s strict baggage requirements, but the sale also included ... Read more

The price of a summer holiday has soared but luckily there are still a few bargains on offer for last-minute tourists. New research from the expert team at Which? Travel has found a Spanish city is the cheapest spot for an early August break. This year’s cheapest last-minute break was in Bilbao, where the average price of a seven night package holiday was just £667. The team checked holidays still available with Jet2Holidays and TUI in the third week of the school summer holidays. The holidays all included flights and a room and four of the cheapest destinations were in ... Read more

Passengers had to endure over two, terrifying hours sitting on a rattling plane, fearing the worst. The low-cost Air Asia X flight, began violently shaking over the Indian Ocean on a flight from Perth, Australia, to Malaysia. The Airbus A330 had over 350 passengers on board. The pilot told passengers he was “scared” and to “pray”, twice. Terrifying footage shown on CNN shows the seats and passengers shuddering in the cabin as they tried to appear brave.  One can be seen holding a pillow over his face, clearly nervous. Many said it “felt like being inside a washing machine”.  You ... Read more

A Government minister has warned travellers that there could be travel disruption this Christmas. Border force staff have indicated there could be strikes during the holiday season. Border Force staff have voted to strike as part of a pay dispute and the union has indicated that strikes could impact Christmas and New Year. Aviation minister Baroness Vere told the ABTA Travel Matters conference: “No days for strikes have been declared at the moment and the Government does have mitigation measures in place.” However, the minister warned that passengers could face “very long queues” in some places and passengers could face ... Read more